TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON HIGHWAYS IN NIGERIA ROAD CAUSES, EFFECTS AND REMEDIES

A Case Study of Polytechnic Road Tudun Wada Kaduna

Abstract

This aim of this study was investigates the causes, effects, and remedies of traffic congestion which has become a common sight in most highways in Nigeria. Polytechnic road Tudun Wada Kaduna was used as the case-study. The methods used in data collection are GIS used in mapping the congested area, used of questionnaire and oral interview. One hundred and ten (110) copies of questionnaires were administered to drivers (private and commercial), passengers, pedestrians and traffic officers using the road. 110 questionnaires were given out; 100 well completed returned questionnaires formed the basis of the study and was analyzed by cross-tabulation and Relative Importance Index (RII). The result from the study showed the main causes of traffic congestion along this road to be poor traffic management, poor parking habit, poor road pavement, inadequate road capacity, lack of parking facilities lack of bus stop too much of buses/taxis on the road, and poor design. Effects of road congestion from the study are waste of time, delay movement, stress, accident, inability to forecast travel time, fuel consumption, night driving and environmental pollution. To drastically reduce these negative effects, there must be provision for adequate parking space, ...